Bed covering

ABSTRACT

A bed covering ( 10 ) which includes an air permeable section ( 13 ) that can be selectively covered by a cover section ( 20 ). The cover section ( 20 ) can be rolled up (in whole or in part) to allow ventilation to take place through the air permeable section ( 13 ). The cover section ( 20 ) forms a warmth retention section. This section ( 20 ) and another warmth retention section ( 19 ) can be a blanket, duvet or similar. A flap section ( 14 ) can be included to tuck under a mattress.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a bed covering.

Bed coverings are generally used to enable a person resting in bed to remain at a constant comfortable temperature. Bed coverings are generally well known, and consist of individual items such washable sheets of cloth material, and blanket(s) and/or a duvet (generally in a cover) laid over the top of the sheets to provide a means of warmth retention to the resting person.

Blankets and duvets are generally of an oblong shape and sized to cover the entire bed in use. Blankets are generally manufactured from natural or synthetic materials woven to provide a fabric of uniform thickness. There are numerous types and thicknesses of blanket commercially available.

A duvet generally consists of two layers of fabric material that have their perimeter edges joined, the inside of which is filled with a material such as synthetic material, wool, down, or feather.

It is common for manufacturers to supply duvets suitable for use in differing seasons such as summer or winter. Thus, duvets are categorised by the weight/density and/or volume of the filling material. Therefore, each individual duvet is filled exclusively with a single or mixture of types of material.

For decorative appearances, cleanliness, and practicality of use, the duvet is generally contained within a cover. These covers may have flaps along their edges for tucking under the mattress, thereby holding the duvet in place whilst in use.

Individual people have differing warmth requirements while resting in bed. However, in the hotter or summer months it is generally the case that the torso requires a bed covering that is able to provide greater warmth retention than that required for the lower legs and feet. Therefore, in bed, it is common for the lower legs and feet of a resting person to be uncomfortably hot whilst the remainder of their body is at a comfortable temperature.

Traditional bed coverings have a number of disadvantages. One disadvantage is that they are of a single weight/thickness construction covering the entire bed, and therefore the resting person. In the case of a double bed where there are two persons, a bed covering may be adequate for one of the persons but not the other leading to an imbalance of coverings required on each side of the bed, and over each of the resting persons.

A second disadvantage is that in the case of the lower legs and feet of a person resting in bed being uncomfortably hot in relation to the rest of their body, there is a tendency for the legs to be removed from under the bed coverings, which gives rise to the possibility of the person becoming entangled in the bed covering, resulting in an uncomfortable rest. Where the bed covering is removed, the torso may be unintentionally exposed thereby the resting person may become uncomfortably cold, again resulting in an uncomfortable rest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an improved bed covering which enables a person resting in bed to adjust the covering such that the temperature of parts of his/her body can be maintained at a comfortable resting temperature.

Broadly according to one aspect of the invention there is provided a bed covering characterised in that it includes an air permeable part and cover section at least part of which is detachable to enable ventilation to occur through said air permeable part.

According to one embodiment of the invention the bed covering is such that it allows a person resting in bed to maintain a constant comfortable temperature of their upper and lower sections independently by being able to reconfigure the warmth retention means to suit their personal requirements thereby ensuring a comfortable rest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following more detailed description of the invention according to preferred embodiments, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bed covering with a part thereof rolled up,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sheet section of the bed covering,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the overlapping warmth retention section of the bed covering,

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the bed covering assembled for use,

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of the bed covering with the warmth retention section rolled up on the bottom end of the bed covering,

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment for use on a double or larger sized bed,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of yet a further embodiment, and

FIG. 8 is a side elevation view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7.

As is disclosed herein, the bed covering is described in an orientation as if being fitted onto a bed. The bed covering thus has an upper-side which is outwardly visible, a top end and a bottom end, the top end being adjacent a persons head as resting in bed.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the bed covering for use on a single bed, or bed designed for one resting person. The bed covering 10 is of generally an oblong shape, designed to conform to, and comfortably fit over a bed. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 illustrates the two main components or sections of bed covering 10 which are coupled together in use.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there are differing means by which fabric may be joined. The method of sewing as described herein is but one method.

As shown in FIG. 2, sheet component 11 comprises at least two individual oblong sections or panels 12/13 (sewn) together to form a generally rectangular shaped sheet. Preferably there is a third panel 14 as will hereinafter be described.

Top 12 panel is of fabric type material. Bottom panel 13 is made from an air permeable/breathable material eg. a perforated mesh or similar fabric type material. A base panel 14 is preferably incorporated and preferably is of the same material as panel 12, although it can be of the same material as panel 13.

The corresponding edges of top panel 12 and bottom panel 13 are sewn together, forming seam 15. Accordingly the corresponding edges of bottom panel 13 and base panel 14 are sewn together, forming seam 16.

As is illustrated by FIG. 4, base panel or flap 14 is provided is provided so that the bed covering has a section which tucks around the end of, and under, mattress M. This thereby holds sheet 11 in place and prevents the bottom of sheet 11 from pulling away from mattress M.

Sheet 11 is sized dimensionally the same width as the warmth retention sections 19 and 20, although preferably and as illustrated by FIG. 4, a flap of sheet F protrudes beyond the head of warmth retention section 19. This is to enable flap F to be folded back over the top of warmth retention section 19 to provide the bed with a conventional appearance when made. This is illustrated by FIG. 1.

At least two warmth retention sections 19 and 20, are provided. The warmth retention sections 19 and 20 are illustrated by FIG. 3. These are of generally rectangular shape, and in the preferred form dimensionally the same width as sheet 11.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there are different fastening means by which fabric objects may be temporarily connected to each other. The methods of using domes and sections of hook and loop fasteners are but two methods.

At least two rows of a plurality of spaced apart male dome fastenings 17 and 18, are attached to the upper-side of sheet 11. These are used for the purpose of attachment of sheet 11 to first and second warmth retention sections 19 and 20. A first row of fastenings 17 are located adjacent seam 15 on top 12 of sheet 11, and a second row of fastenings 18 are located adjacent seam 16 on base 13 of sheet 11.

A first warmth retention section 19 has at least one row of a plurality of spaced apart female dome fastenings 21 attached to its underside adjacent its edge E1. The positioning of the spaced apart female dome fastenings 21 must correspond to those spaced apart male dome fastenings 17 on top 12 of sheet 11, so that when female dome fastenings 17 and male dome fastenings 21 are mated together, the perimeter edges of warmth retention section 19 and sheet 11 align.

A second warmth retention section 20 has at least one row of a plurality of spaced apart female dome fastenings 22 attached to its underside adjacent its edge E2. The positioning of the spaced apart female dome fastenings 22 must correspond to those spaced apart male dome fastenings 18 on base 14 of sheet 11, so that when female dome fastenings 18 and male dome fastenings 22 are mated together, the perimeter edges of warmth retention section 20 and sheet 11 align.

Edge E3 of warmth retention section 20 overlaps edge E1 of warmth retention section 19 as shown in FIG. 4. To hold edge E3 of warmth retention section 20 in position on top of warmth retention section 19, a length of hook and loop fastening is used. This comprises hook section 23 and loop section 24. Hook section 23 is located on the upper-side of warmth retention section 19, centrally located along, and adjacent to edge E1. Loop section 24 is located on the underside of warmth retention section 20, centrally located and adjacent to edge E3.

Thus when warmth retention sections 19 and 20 are attached to sheet 11 and laid flat on the sheet, hook section 23 mates with loop section 24.

On the side of warmth retention section 20 directly opposing hook section 23 is a length of woven fabric type tape material. This is used to fasten around warmth retention section 20 when this is in the rolled position, to thereby hold it in the rolled position (as illustrated by FIG. 1).

In use the bed covering 10 is laid over the top of a bottom sheet on a mattress M. The person resting in bed, and thereby covered by the bed covering, may change the configuration of the warmth retention section until they are at a comfortable temperature. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the warmth retention section may be removed from the users feet where these are at an uncomfortably hot temperature, whilst the users torso remains covered and at a comfortable temperature.

The sheet is such that it may be uncoupled from the warmth retention section in order for it to be cleaned. This has the advantage that the user may have in store a number of sheets available, which may be of different colour, pattern, or seasonal weight.

The invention is open to modifications as will be apparent by the skilled addressee.

According to an alternative embodiment the bed covering may be adapted for use on a double or larger size bed, which is designed for more than one resting person. FIG. 6 illustrates this embodiment. To achieve this embodiment, the first embodiment is effectively duplicated, laid side by side, and joined lengthwise. This enables each of the resting persons to be covered by at least two warmth retention sections.

According to a further embodiment the bed covering may be shortened in length making it suitable for children, or those persons who are less than the average height, to use.

In yet another embodiment the sheet may be manufactured from either a summer or winter weight fabric type material.

In a further embodiment, warmth retention sections of differing weights may be mixed on the same sheet.

In another embodiment, the warmth retention sections may be contained within a washable and decorative cover.

A further embodiments can be seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. According to this embodiment, no sheet section is included. As illustrated, the top section 12 and first warmth retention section is formed as a duvet 26 or a cover 26 into which a duvet inner (of appropriate dimensions) can be inserted. The embodiment will, however, be described as being a duvet 26 that is filled to a desired weight. Preferably it is stitched down the centre (for double, queen, king bed application) as shown at 27.

The air permeable or perforated material section 13 is fastened (sewn) direct to the duvet.

The second warmth retention section(s) 20 is/are sewn or detachably fastened to the perforated material section 13 or bare section 14. When there are two sections 20 they are preferably joined together at their adjacent edges by suitable fastening means such as a zipper fastener 28. The second warmth retention means can also be of a duvet construction.

The present invention provides a bed covering which enables the user to reconfigure the warmth retention sections in order for their individual warmth requirements to be met. It enables a user to provide more or less warmth to that part of the body which is not at a comfortable temperature.

By having an air permeable/breathable section, a person resting in bed can provide more warmth to that section of the body requiring it most, without unduly overheating another section of the body that has a lesser warmth requirement. 

1-18. (canceled)
 19. A bed covering characterised in that it includes an air permeable part, a first warmth retention section coupled to the air permeable part and a cover section at least part of which is detachable to enable ventilation to occur through said air permeable part.
 20. A bed covering as claimed in claim 19 wherein the air permeable part is a perforated, mesh or similar panel.
 21. A bed covering as claimed in claim 19 wherein the air permeable part is coupled to a tuck in panel or flap.
 22. A bed covering as claimed in claim 19 wherein the first warmth retention section is coupled to the air permeable part by a sheet of fabric.
 23. A bed covering as claimed in claim 19 wherein the first warmth retention part is coupled directly to the air permeable part by being sewn or otherwise fastened thereto.
 24. A bed covering as claimed in claim 23 wherein the first warmth retention part is a duvet.
 25. A bed covering as claimed in claim 23 wherein the duvet is within a duvet cover, the duvet cover being coupled directly to the air permeable part.
 26. A bed covering as claimed in claim 19 wherein the cover section is in the form of a second warmth retention part which is coupled by a coupling arrangement to the bed covering and incorporates a releasable fastening whereby the second warmth retention part is releasably fastenable to over-lie the air permeable part.
 27. A bed covering as claimed in claim 26 wherein the coupling arrangement is a releasable coupling.
 28. A bed covering as claimed in claim 26 wherein the second warmth retention part is arranged so that it can be rolled up when the coupling arrangement has been released.
 29. A bed covering as claimed 28 wherein a retention device is provided to retain the second warmth retention part in the rolled up state.
 30. A bed covering as claimed in claim 26 wherein the first and second warmth retention parts are blankets.
 31. A bed covering as claimed in claim 26 wherein the second warmth retention part is a duvet.
 32. A bed covering as claimed in claim 19 wherein the cover section is formed in two parts.
 33. A bed covering as claimed in claim 32 wherein the two parts are releasably joined together.
 34. A bed covering as claimed in claim 33 wherein the two parts are joined along adjacent edges by a zipper fastener.
 35. A bed covering as claimed in claim 20 wherein the cover section is in the form of a second warmth retention part which is coupled by a coupling to the bed covering and incorporates a releasable fastening whereby the second warmth part is releasably fastenable to over-lie the air permeable part.
 36. A bed covering as claimed in claim 35 wherein the first and second warmth retention parts are blankets.
 37. A bed covering as claimed in claim 35 wherein the first and second warmth retention parts are duvets.
 38. A bed covering as claimed in claim 35 wherein the cover section is formed in two parts.
 39. A bed covering as claimed in claim 38 wherein the two parts are releasably joined together.
 40. A bed covering as claimed in claim 37 wherein each duvet is within a duvet cover. 